Curriculum and Instruction

Assembly Bill 101 of 2021 mandates that all high schools in California have an Ethnic Studies course in place by 2025-26 and adds this course as a high school graduation requirement starting with the class of 2030 and beyond.

Community meetings were held on November 18, 2024 in Loyalton and November 19, 2024 in Downieville to inform the public about the course and gather feedback.  The PowerPoint presentation from those meetings can be found here.  If you are interested in being part of the curriculum review committee starting in January, 2025, please email Superintendent Sean Snider at [email protected].

• Ethnic Studies Course Action Steps

2024-25:

Preparation for Ethnic Studies Course

• • • Held two community meetings to educate the Loyalton and Downieville communities on the Ethnic Studies course and to create the SPJUSD Ethnic Studies Advisory Committee
    • Created a course timeline and rollout plan
    • Solicited input from the Ethnic Studies Advisory Committee at two meetings (Jan. 15th and Feb. 5th) and incorporated the input into the draft of the semester-long ethnic studies course curriculum 
    • Identified educators to teach the course
    • Provided professional development for administrators and teachers

Curriculum Development

• • • Develop course and identify instructional materials for each unit based on input from the SPJUSD Ethnic Studies Advisory Committee
    • Submit the course to district's board for approval

2025-26:

Implementation

• • • Include Ethnic Studies as an official district course offering as a semester-long UC/CSU approved elective course (G).
    • Support educators with ongoing professional learning
    • Gather feedback from the community and share course changes as needed

2026-29:

• • • Review course completion for students graduating in 2029-30 and ensure they will meet the Ethnic Studies graduation requirement

2029 and Ongoing:

Ethnic Studies as Graduation Requirement

• • • Ensure that all graduating seniors will meet the Ethnic Studies graduation requirement
    • Continue communication with educators and community, as well as share course changes as needed

Results of the 2024-2025 School Attendance Survey